Emergency escape breathing apparatus

Abstract

Emergency escape breathing apparatus having a hood 2 made of flexible material, an inner mask 6, supply means 4 by which respirable air may be supplied to the inner mask and a member 10 attached to the inner mask 6 which may act to hold the inner mask 6 in position, and also aids donning of the apparatus without dislodging any spectacles 3, if worn.

We claim: 
     
       1. Emergency escape breathing apparatus comprising supply means for connection to a supply of breathable gas; a hood made of flexible material; an inner mask in communication with the supply means; resilient means for holding the inner mask in position when in use; and a member attached to the inner mask which extends at least the width of the head of a wearer of the apparatus and which is at least semi-rigid so as to urge the inner mask against the wearer's face when the apparatus is worn whereby the semi-rigid member serves the dual function of maintaining the hood away from the wearer's face as the apparatus is donned and urging the mask against the users face once the apparatus is in place on the wearer's head. 
     
     
       2. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member is resilient. 
     
     
       3. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said resilient means is at least partially provided by said member. 
     
     
       4. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient means is at least partially provided by an internal elastic harness which is attached to said hood. 
     
     
       5. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said resilient means is at least partially provided by an internal elastic harness which is attached to said hood. 
     
     
       6. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said resilient means is at least partially provided by an internal elastic harness which is attached to said hood. 
     
     
       7. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hood is made of an elastic material and said resilient means is at least partially provided by said hood. 
     
     
       8. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the hood is made of an elastic material and said resilient means is at least partially provided by said hood. 
     
     
       9. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the hood is made of an elastic material and said resilient means is at least partially provided by said hood. 
     
     
       10. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the hood is made of an elastic material and said resilient means is at least partially provided by said hood. 
     
     
       11. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the hood is made of an elastic material and said resilient means is at least partially provided by said hood. 
     
     
       12. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the hood is made of an elastic material and said resilient means is at least partially provided by said hood. 
     
     
       13. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said hood is made of a non-elastic flame-resistant material and said resilient means is wholly provided by said member. 
     
     
       14. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner mask comprises an orinasal mask. 
     
     
       15. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner mask is formed separately from the hood. 
     
     
       16. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member is formed integrally with said inner mask. 
     
     
       17. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said member is formed separately from said inner mask and said hood and wherein said hood is formed with a pocket or similar attachment means by which said member may be attached to said hood which in turn is attached to said inner mask. 
     
     
       18. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hood is adapted to engage the back of a wearer's head approximately level with the wearer's ears and above, while the back of the hood below the level of the wearer's ears may bulge outwardly when in use. 
     
     
       19. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the neck portion of the hood is made of a resilient means to engage the neck of a wearer when in use and thereby provide a seal against the external atmosphere. 
     
     
       20. Emergency escape breathing apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein the neck portion of the hood is made of a resilient means to engage the neck of a wearer when in use and thereby provide a seal against the external atmosphere.